The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 32: Blood-Soaked Giant Python

Vol 2 Chapter 32: Blood-Soaked Giant Python

Night, the group of several people gathered around the campfire for dinner. On the wooden board lay roasted venison and mushroom vegetable soup served in wooden bowls, exceptionally delicious.

The venison sprinkled with spices and salt, that sizzling, oily meat entering the mouth, was pure enjoyment, leaving the group quite satisfied.

The mushroom vegetable soup was quite effective at cutting through the greasiness. While eating, taking occasional sips also soothed their throats, feeling particularly comfortable.

After enjoying the delicious dinner, Captain 'Bad Apple' began summarizing today's gains and situation.

"Overall, today went very smoothly, especially with Tia's addition. Our scouting and enemy reconnaissance have reached a reassuring level."

"In total, we hunted one deer, three gray rabbits, two venomous snakes, and three black crows."

"Among them, the hide and antlers of that strange-horned deer are worth roughly 12 gold coins. The pelts of the three gray rabbits total about 80 silver coins. The fangs, gallbladders, and scales of the two venomous snakes are all purchased by Apothecaries, probably selling for about 3 gold coins each, so 6 gold coins for both."

"The feathers of the three black crows can be used in alchemical materials, valued at roughly 1 gold coin and 20 silver."

"Adding it all up, it's nearly 20 gold coins." After saying this, he whistled cheerfully.Next was inventorying and checking supplies. No one experienced any intense combat today, so the supplies were preserved quite well.

Then came checking and recording the erosion of their own Fate Cards. Since they were traversing the black-and-white world, this erosion was almost unavoidable. Everyone closed their eyes, carefully sensing, and only after a good while did they report their data.

"I'm probably around 1.8%." Karl, as a wizard, had sharp spiritual perception and quickly analyzed his own state.

"I'm at 2.1%." 'Bad Apple' also opened his eyes soon after.

"I'm probably around 2%." Yan roughly estimated;

he wasn't skilled at this.

Pona looked up now, somewhat embarrassed. "I still can't analyze how much I've been eroded, but I definitely feel it's below 5%."

Although she couldn't see it herself, Sylutia could actually see the other's current state, which was at 2.7%, the deepest among the group.

As for Sylutia herself, she analyzed carefully for a long time but found no trace of erosion.

"I can't analyze it either. I don't feel like I've been eroded," the young girl answered.

"This is your first time exploring this kind of black-and-white world. Without experience for reference and comparison, it's indeed difficult to perceive subtle changes." Karl thought for a moment, offering simple comfort.

Generally speaking, the stronger one's spiritual power, the better they could perceive such subtle changes, and gardeners were not a profession known for exceptional spiritual power.

"Here, this is for you." The captain took out a precise metal sphere from his pack and tossed it to Sylutia.

"Input your Aspect power into the sphere. If the color changes, that means you've reached 5%."

"Okay, I'll try." Sylutia tried to input her own power, and then the sphere emitted a faint white light.

"That means it hasn't reached 5% yet. Still quite safe." Karl explained.

"If it reaches 5%, it will show a faint yellow light. 10% is orange-yellow, 15% is orange, 20% is orange-red, 25% is deep red, and 30% is purple-red."

"Teams usually carry one to test anytime, because some apprentices, first-tier newcomers, simply can't perceive their own state, and relying on experiential feeling is too unreliable. However, this thing isn't cheap. One costs at least 20 gold coins and is uniformly made by the association's alchemists."

After the captain recorded each member's state, it was time to assign night watch.

"Night watch requires at least two people rotating, but considering adequate rest, three people rotating is more appropriate, allowing everyone to sleep a bit better."

"Same as usual. Me, Yan, and Karl will rotate. Tia, you and Pona don't need to today." The captain directly arranged.

Honestly, they wouldn't feel at ease letting a newcomer take watch either;

sticking to the old pattern was better.

And so, as an adventure newcomer, Sylutia lay on a mat not far from the campfire, next to Pona on her own mat, covered with a thin blanket, preparing to sleep.

However, Sylutia still couldn't fall asleep, probably because she wasn't tired enough. Lying on the mat, listening to the slight crackling of the burning firewood and the footsteps and movements of the members on watch, it was a good while before she fell into a light sleep.

Early morning, the cold mist had not yet dispersed.

Sylutia awoke to the sounds of her companions moving about.

Yan was still sleeping at this point. Pona had already started making breakfast. Karl stood to the side, having his phantom cat scout the surroundings, while Captain Bad Apple was packing up the sleeping mats.

"Awake, Tia?" Pona sat by the fire, waving to the young girl.

"Was it cold last night? Come over and have some hot water." A small metal kettle by the campfire was boiling water.

"Slept okay." It was indeed colder here than in the valley, maybe because autumn had arrived.

Soon, Pona finished cooking vegetable and meat porridge, then heated the carried wheat cakes and distributed them to everyone.

Taking advantage of the heat, everyone felt much better after eating, then helped pack up the remaining items.

"Let's go." Yan hoisted the packs onto his back and then called out to everyone.

Most of the team's luggage was carried by him, with smaller portions carried by Pona and Karl. As for the captain, he needed to maintain quick reaction capability and didn't carry much luggage.

The only small pack Sylutia carried now contained her emergency rations, potions, candles, distress signal arrows, a towel, and nothing else.

The group continued trekking through the deep forest, advancing according to the route on the map.

They exited colored areas several times, traversed long black-and-white zones, and then re-entered nodes along the way. The journey during the first half of the day was relatively smooth, with not much harvest.

In the afternoon, after reaching a node, they rested for a while. Then the captain took out the map and discussed with the others.

"Now we have two choices. One is to go north. There's a canyon there where the grass and trees are exceptionally dense. We'd basically be traveling through a sea of grass, unable to see anything beyond a few meters. There's some danger, but there's also a chance of finding some special fruits."

"The other choice is to take a road more to the east, following along a cliff wall. The visibility is good, but we might encounter strange rock worms attacking along the way. However, the danger level is lower."

After listening to his description, everyone considered their options.

[1, Choose the canyon. Unknown danger +3, Harvest +3]

[2, Choose the cliff wall. Danger +1]

This was the data that appeared in Sylutia's mind after comprehensive consideration.

Soon, they voted. Except for Yan, who chose the cliff wall, everyone else chose the canyon.

"Yan has always been cautious and careful. I'm not surprised he chose that. But why did Karl change his mind this time?" Pona was curious.

"I don't disregard harvest every single time. This time we added a team member. Tia is very good at scouting, so the danger won't be that high. Plus, the harvest is tangible." He shook his head, calmly analyzing.

"More importantly, the reason I came here was to find the 'Ash Evil Fruit.' If we don't find it, we might have to make several trips back and forth. The accumulated danger from multiple trips wouldn't be small either, and it would waste more time."

"That's right. Time cost is also a significant cost." The captain flipped the pen in his hand, noting this choice in his journal, then led everyone northward.

Walking through the thick, shaded woods, crossing several hills, they gradually arrived deep within a damp valley.

When they first entered, the grass only reached their ankles. But as they progressed, it gradually reached their waists, then their chests. Pona, the shortest in the team, soon couldn't see far into the distance.

Grass blades carrying dew brushed against their bodies, bringing not only a damp chill but also occasional tiny black insects that crawled into their clothes, making everyone uncomfortable.

"I'm starting to regret this." Bad Apple shook his head, feeling that choosing the canyon this time wasn't a good idea.

"Hmm, you guys use a rope to pull me along. I'm afraid I'll get lost and you won't even know." Pona walked behind, somewhat uneasy.

"The danger level isn't too bad, though." Karl gestured, and invisible phantoms darted through the grass, scouting the surroundings for him.

"Tia, can you see the situation in the distance clearly?" The captain turned back to ask the black-haired girl.

Hearing this, Sylutia's gaze swept around, and she nodded.

"I can still see roughly. Currently, besides the grass and plants, there are only some ordinary snakes and insects. Nothing special." That's what she said, but looking at the increasingly tall grass ahead, she also felt somewhat troubled.

After walking another kilometer or so, the green grass around them now towered over their heads, completely submerging the team. Logically, grass structure couldn't support such height;

it would inevitably bend and fall over, or need to grow thick stalks like corn to hold itself up.

But the weeds here were indeed strange. Perhaps due to the special environment of the secret realm and the influence of the Distortion Aspect, such plants were born.

As they walked, the group's speed grew slower and slower. Sylutia's perception range was now also reduced to within 200 meters.

Just as everyone saw that they were halfway through the journey and felt a slight rise of hope, Sylutia stopped. She turned her head with some suspicion, looking to one side. There, concealed within the rustling of grass blades, were some strange sounds of living creatures moving, though quite faint. If not for her, no one else in the team would have noticed.

Seeing Sylutia stop, the others were puzzled. Only Captain Bad Apple suddenly thought of something.

"Prepare for combat immediately. Pona, you get to the middle."

"Yes." Hearing this, everyone immediately dropped their luggage and began to be on guard.

Gray-white powder scattered from Karl's hand, then, under his manipulation, transformed into an illusory form that charged in the direction Sylutia was staring.

Soon, a fierce lashing strike erupted from the sea of grass. Large swathes of grass blades flew and snapped. The dark red figure was timely blocked by Yan raising his shield, producing a deafening, dull impact.

At this moment, everyone could finally see the opponent clearly from the fallen grass.

A giant python raised its blood-red head, looking down upon the group from high above. The middle of its belly was slightly thicker, as if it had swallowed many living creatures. Its raised head stood about 5-6 meters high. Its crimson tail slithered through the grass. The lashing strike that had almost sent Yan flying earlier was its doing.

This snake probably weighed several tons. Sylutia's gaze showed surprise, then light swirled in her pupils as she analyzed the opponent's situation.

Race: Blood-Disc Python (Advanced)

State: Healthy (Bloodthirsty)

Talents:

Devour [Excellent Grade]: Can devour prey larger than its body and gradually digest it, absorbing the prey's power.

Fate Card: [Crimson Giant Python] (Second Tier · Bloodline)

'After devouring numerous prey, the Blood-Disc Python has finally advanced, becoming a stronger and more dangerous existence.'

- Effect: [Python Body Lv.5], a talent within its bloodline, granting you powerful constriction ability by nature. Can easily crush elephants and rhinos to death;

even steel would be compressed and deformed.

- Effect: [Blood-Draining Fangs Lv.4], you have no interest in playing with useless venom. Instead, you use sharp fangs to directly drain the opponent's blood, depriving them of strength to resist.

Ability Cards:

[Blood Devouring Method Lv.5] (Bloodline): Can digest devoured flesh, blood, scales, skin, and bones, converting them into its own 'Bloodline' Aspect power.

[Red Scale Hide Lv.3] (Bloodline): Tough, thick hide. Difficult for spears and swords to pierce. Heat-resistant.

[Serpent Gaze Lv.3] (Bloodline): Your pupils make many weak creatures fearful, freezing them under your gaze. Can gaze-attack opponents, causing their blood to tremble and movements to stiffen.